heredity

American  

[huh-red-i-tee] / həˈrɛd ɪ ti /

noun

Biology.

plural

heredities

1. the transmission of genetic characters from parents to offspring: it is dependent upon the segregation and recombination of genes during meiosis and fertilization and results in the genesis of a new individual similar to others of its kind but exhibiting certain variations resulting from the particular mix of genes and their interactions with the environment.

2. the genetic characters so transmitted.

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heredity British  

/ hɪˈrɛdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the transmission from one generation to another of genetic factors that determine individual characteristics: responsible for the resemblances between parents and offspring

2. the sum total of the inherited factors or their characteristics in an organism

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heredity Scientific  

/ hə-rĕd′ĭ-tē /

1. The passage of biological traits or characteristics from parents to offspring through the inheritance of genes.

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heredity Cultural  

1. The passing of characteristics from parents to children. (See genetics.)

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Etymology

Origin of heredity

First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French heredite, from Latin hērēditāt-, stem of hērēditās “inheritance,” from hērēd- (stem of hērēs ) heir + -itās -ity

Compare meaning

How does heredity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• heredity vs. genetics

Explanation

Heredity is the biological process responsible for passing on physical traits from one generation to another. If your mom and dad both have dreamy blue eyes and so do you, then you've got hereditary to thank for your movie-star gaze. First used in the 1530s, the noun heredity comes from the Latin word hereditatem, meaning "condition of being an heir." It can refer to inheriting characteristics from your parents, or it can refer more broadly to the passing on of genetic factors from one generation to the next. Heredity will determine a person's hair color and height. And due to heredity, some people are more susceptible to diseases and disorders like cancer, alcoholism, and depression.

Example Sentences

In Galton’s day, the impact of heredity on who we are as people had become recognized, then greatly exaggerated—a trend that continued through the next century and remains alive and well today.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

The possibility of a genealogical tree of life is predicated on the existence of an underlying process of heredity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

"Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc," it said.

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

From the description of skin as “blue black” to the blues as a musical genre, the color blue and its many shades intertwine with African American heredity, history and heritage.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2024

It had taken two excruciatingly slow decades for Hugo de Vries to become a convert to Mendel’s ideas of heredity.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee